A few months ago, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller announced that the city would temporarily refashion part of the Langley Parking Lot next to the Newton Centre Green for an outdoor plaza for people to gather and enjoy the village center along with family games and events.

That plaza will open on Saturday. And everyone is invited.

Starting at noon, you and your family can enjoy a block party—with art, games, and live ukelele music by the City Hall Strummers—in the newly-erected plaza near the corner of Centre and Beacon streets. It’s hard to miss, given the vibrant polka-dotted paint job some talented students recently helped give that part of the lot. The paint, like the plaza and like summer itself, is temporary.

The plaza space is available for special events, too. Check out the city’s Applications & Permits page to learn more.

The launch will coincide with Chalkfest, the final installment this season of the Linda Plaut Festival of the Arts. From 10 a.m. to noon, kids will work together and draw the longest sidewalk snake they can.

Fuller’s idea for a public plaza in Newton Centre was met with a mix of emotions, with some excited and others concerned about parking. After listening to feedback, city officials reworked the plan to use up fewer parking spaces.

The plaza will have games, planters, seating and umbrellas, all yet to be installed. The goal of the plaza is to foster community gathering and bring families to the village center throughout the summer.